Railway snow flanger



Sept. 7 1926.

E. R. PAcKER RAILWAY sNow FLANGER 4Filed June 10, 1919- '7 Shae'cs--Shzae'cl l Sept. 7 '1926.

E. R. PACKER RAILWAY SNOW FLANGER sept. 7,1926. 1,598,783

' E. R. PACKER RAILWAY SNOW FLANGER Filed vJune 10. 1919 '7 sheets-sheet s Fig. 6.

E. R. PACKER RAILWAY sNow FLANGER Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,783

5 woentoz Eben FyPa/cer n51, oznmt Sept. '7 1926.

E. R. PACKER RAILWAY s'Now FLANGER Filed June 10. 1919 n num. "num '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 7,1926. 1,598,783

E. R; PACKER RAILWAY sNow FLANGER Filed Jn 10. 1919 sept. 7 192e. 1,598,183

E. R. PACKER RAILWAY SNOW FLANGER Filed June 10, 1919. '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 lnuenloz lEne'n Hay P26756? q ZLS hmmag Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES' PATENT oFFicE.

EBEN RAY PACKER, 0F NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

, RAILWAY SNOW FLANGER.

Application led June 1 0, 1919. Serial No. 363,143." I

1,057,084 of Mar. 25, 191s. and 1,162,096 of Nov. ao, 191s.

ularly witha view to provide an improved land substantial construction which .will 'operate in an improved manner and will possess features of advantage over Hanger vconstructions as heretofore proposed. To this end my improved Hanger construction embodies features of arrangement and inode of operation which contribute materially to the effectiveness and insures the positive operation .of the lifting means for the elevation of the Hanger as required when passing over 'a crossing or switch. With respect to the latter feature a particularly important feature of my present invention resides in the employment of plural and independently operating means operative to elevate the flanger clear o f obstructions so as to eliminate or reduce to the minimum the liability of damage resulting from contact with obstructions.

My improved construction insures against damage resulting from the failure or `inadequacy of one of the lifting forces and correspondingly a more reliable oper-ation is insured and the factor of safety is increased. To effect the lifting operation I desirably employ means operative by Huid pressure such as steam or air under the control of an operator and also means, such as springs,

adapted normally to elevate the Hangers sufficient ,to clear obstructions and when it is desired tovdepress the Hangerinto its operative position the action of the fluid pressure is reversed and .employed to overcome the lifting action of the springs. By the use of my improved arrangement, employing independently 'acting lifting means, not only is the danger from failure to elevate reduced but the combined forces acting upon theflanger will operate more responsively in the lifting operation anJd will. therefore be more effective to overcome resistance resulting from the pressures and Weight of snow against the Hanger elements.

Other important features of my present invention consist of a Hanger construction of improved design adapted for double vbetween the rails and in track use-and effective to discharge the snow all upon one side of the road bed and further adapted to clear the snow or ice from close proximity to the road bed. The latter feature is iinportant in clearing away the crust of snow and ice from the centre of the track which tends toaccumulate and build up together with cinders and coal from drippings from The present invention is designed partie-l the rolling stock. Other'valuable features as herein disclosed consist of improvements in the manner of supporting' the Hangers upon the trucks or upon the body of the vehicle -solas to give rigid and substantial support thereto and further in an improved arrangement whereby upon encountering excessive obstructions suoli as for instance boulders carried upon the road bed by snow slides, the Hangers shall be so supported that the excessive stresses shall not be transmitted to the cylinders or operating parts thereof and in consequence the damage from such source will be inconsequential. The feature last referred to is 'also of value in adapting my improved Hanger construction for use in the spreading of ballast or sand upon the road bed.

' The foregoing features and otheradvantages of my present invention over the prior art structures will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following more detailed description. Referring to the drawings wherein like ref'- er'ence characters are applied to the correspondingparts in the several views. y

Fig. l is a view in front elevation illustratingan approved embodiment of my invention wherein oppositely arranged Hangers are employed.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the construction of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view thereof in side elevation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating in detail the lifting cylinderconstru'ction and showing the parts in4 theirirclative position when the Hanger is depressed or in operating position.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in elevation andspace between the rails, of which Fig. 6 is a front elevation, Fig. 7 a plan view and Fig. 8 Va view in side elevation illustrating some of the parts in section.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a further desirable modification of my invention embodying the features thereof in an improved type of flanger adapted for double track systems and operative to throwlsnow `entirely to the one side and also to clear the full space between the tracks. Of these Fig. 9 is a plan View and Fig. 10 a view in side elevation.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a further desirable embodiment and modification of my invention wherein the flanger element 'is supported by suitable connections from above the lifting cylinders; the views showing the same in side elevation and in front elevation respectively.

Fig. 13 is a view in side elevation illustrating my improved langer construction embodied in a plow construction.

Fig. 14 is a similar view illustrating the combined use in a snow plow of the flangers of the types illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig.

9 so as to`thoroughly clear the road bed throughout the entire width thereof.

In the specific application of my invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive an arrangement is illustrated wherein flanger plates are operatively related to each of the v\rails and the supporting' and operating means therefor are suspended from a car body desirably by attachment to the forward/ bumper beam or other supporting member positioned in advance of the forward truck of the car or vehicle. It will be understood that the specific manner of support may be variously modified in accord- 40 ance with the particular installations and as desired the flanger may be supported upon the car bodies or directly upon the car trucks and in either case I preferably employ the general type of guiding support for the` Hangers as illustrated in my prior Patent :#1,057,084 hereinbefore referred to. Accordingly I have shown the members for supporting the various parts of my device portin plates 2, 2 which are'vertically positione and which may be varied in form to accommodate them for connection with various types of car bodies or trucks depending upon the particularl installations. These supports 2 as indicated are secured in position by means of angles 3, 3 and 4, 4 bolted to the forward or bumper beam 5 of the car body. The supporting members or plates 2, 2 are provided each with a ver- 60, tical or substantial vertical slot 7, the slots of the respective supporting plates being oppositely positioned and adapted to act as ide slots to control the vertical movement of the Hanger elements as now to be de scribed.

lnected thereby.

vconsisting of oppositely arranged main sup` Fitting within the slots 7, 7 there is arranged a cross bar 8 which is a carrier mem,-

ber for the respective fiangers or Hanger plates f. The iangers f are formed of suitable contour with notches 10 formed 'in their lower edges to provide clearance for the tops of the rail heads and thereby permit the lower edge of the Hanger upon opposite sides thereof to extend below the rail heads. The iiangers are also supported at a suitable angle to properly deflect Athe snow and as shown may desirably be secured directly to the carrier bar. For the latter purpose the extremities 11, 11 of the bar 8 may be bent rearwardly at a suitable angle and the outer ends of the fianger plates f may be bolted or otherwise secured thereto. At their inner ends the flanger plates f are secured to the carrier bar 8 bymeans of .siutable brackets 13, 13 secured to therespective members. To co-actin properly guiding the movement of the carrier bar 8 xuitable guide bars 14 are attached .to the :arrier bar 8 immediately adjacent to the supporting plates 2 and positioned to engage the outer faces thereof to prevent lateral movement'of the carrienbar 8 and the flanger supported thereby. Rigidly secured to the supporting plates'2 there is provided a supporting cross 'bar 15 having its' end portions rearwardly extended and boltedto the supporting plates 2, 2, which are. thus con- As indicated the cross bar 15 is arranged on a plane below that of the carrier bar 8 so that the latter in its lowermost position will be'ar upon the rearwardly directed end portions 16, 16 of the supporting bar 15. By reason of this relation of the carrier bar 8 and cross bar 15 the latter acts as a lower stop or bearing support for the carrierbar 8 and the flangers attached thereto and is so positioned as to determine the proper spacing of the flangers from the railswhen the latter assume their lowered or operating position as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The slots 7, 7 are suitably elongated vertically to permit of the carrier bar 8 moving upwardly therein sufliciently toelevate the Hangers f so as to pass over obstructions such as crosses and switches with adequate clearance. In so lf-ar as described the supporting parts are generally similarf to the disclosure of my prior patent aforesaid.

In accordance with an important and characteristic feature of my present inven tion I have' devised an improved arrangement to effect the lifting or elevating of the angers from their operating position as is required when passing over crossings, switches or other obstructions and when the flangers are notin use. A particularly im portant feature ofv my present improvement consistsin the employment of plural and insafetyiis materially increased. As will be readily appreciated the effectiveness of the lifting means is a factor of the greatest importance to insure against damage or destruction of the Hangers and further danger of derailment in consequence thereof ,and further'that the lifting operation must at times be accomplished when there is considerable resistance by reason of pressures of snow and ice to which the Hangers are subjected. t

In my improved construction I desirably employ as one source of lifting power a Huid pressure such as steam or compressed air which is under the control of the operator and operates to exert a lifting force to raise the Hangers and may be reversed and operated to depress thel Hangers into operating position. In 'addition I desirablyvemploy a suitable arrangement of compression springs operative normally to elevate and sustain the Hangers in apposition to clear obstructions. The latter means will thus he effective vto elevate the Hangers when the Huid pressure is shut ofi' .and the Hangers not in use and it is arranged that when the Hangers are to be used that they shall be depressed into operative position against the influence of the springs by means of the Huid pressure. To this end, in the construction as disclosed oppositely arranged cylinders 20, 20 are 'secured to the carrier bar 8 as indicated and Htted within the cylinders as bes shown in Figs. 4 and 5, pistons 21 are arranged and piston rods 22 are connected thereto by means of clamping nuts 23, H3. The piston rods as shown are provided at their lower ends with bearing members 2asecured upon the rigid 'supporting bar 15 whereby the piston 2l will be rigidly supported and held and the cylinder 2O attached to the carrier bar S, is movable with relation thereto.

In accordance with my improved arrangement the cylinder 2O is arranged to be operated in both upward and downward direction under pressure by means of any isuitable Huid pressure, for instance steam or coinpressed air, and under control of the operator by means of a suitable valve not. shown and introduced in the cylinder either through the ports 24 above thel piston or through ports 25 below the piston to operate respectively to raise or lower the cylinders and the Hangers connected therewith. Exhaust ports 26, 27 communicate with the cylinder chamber above and below the piston 2l. are indicated. The intake ports 24, 25 are connected by suitable pipes 28 and flexible connections 29 to a suitable source of supply and the discharge or exhaust ports 26. 27 are similarly connected by pipes 30 and Hexible connections 3l to a suitable con- 1 trollingvalve in the usual manner as will be readily understood. As indicated the piston is providedwith the usual expansible rm 33 and packing washer Bland the cylinde chamber is sealed in the usual manner by means of suitable packing 35 and secured iu position by means of a gland 36 bolted to the lower wall of the cylinder.

'Ihe second' and i independently voperated means for raising the cylinder may konsist of compression springs 38 fitted within the upper portion of the cylinders and bearing upon the'upper side of the piston and the. top wall 39 of thecylinder thereby normal-- ly to 1aise the cylinder into its elevated po-iition as shown in Fig. 5,the strength of these springs being proportioned to effect this lifting operation normally` to elevate the Hangers to clear obstructions when the Huid pressure for depressing the cylinder is cut Asiwill be readily understood from the foregoing disclosure, the operation of my improved Hanger will be that under normal conditions of disuse the compression springs 38, when the Huid pressure is shut oli' or not connected, will elevate the Hangers clear of obstructions and accordingly prevent damage thereto. lVhen in use the Huid pressures introduced *in the .intake ports 24 will depress the Hangers into operating position against the influence of the springs 38 and upon approaching an obstruction reversal of the Huid pressure to enter the cylinders through intakesv25 will exert a lifting force to co-act with that of the springs 38 to quickly and effectively raise the;

Hangers; In the'latter instance the dual source of power cooperating to raise the cylinder is particularly valuable and desirable in that the one source compensates for any deficiency or failure of the other and further overcomes resistance which would at -times be excessive were but one source of power employed. In consequence reliability in the proper operation is insured and danger reduced to the 1ninimum degree. The foregoing features of my invention arel further valuable in adapting my improved Hangers for use in the spreading of ballast or sandv or for the removal of sand from the road bed which in certain localities is encountered owing to severe sand storms. l fr While I have described an approved fembodiment of the aforesaid features of my invention it will be understood that they may be variously modified in form and arrangement without departing from -the broader features thereof. For instance while I have shown the cylinders as immovable and the Hangers operatively connected therewith and the pistons rigidly supported it will be readily understood that their relations may be reversed. that is the pistons may be the movable elements and connected to the Hangers, with' the cylinders immovably supifi llG

ported. An arrangement of this character In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have illustrated a desirable modification of the features of my present invention. wherein the ilangers f are suitably modified in' form to operatively extend across the entire space between the rails.'

The form as here illustrated is `adapted particularly for single track use and the flanger elements or 'plates f are securedto a reenforcing crbacking bar 40 secured tothe carrier bar 8 by the bracket 13 heretofore described. The bar 40 is angular in form and has secured thereto a bracing rod 41. The flanger plates have inward extensions 42, 42 wherebythey form-a combined plow and Hanger construction adapted to remove the snow from the entire area between the rails and to deflect it to both sides from the central portion thereof. In its-other features of construction the modication of Figs. 6

and 8 is shown generally similar to the application of the features of my invention iirst described. y Referring touFigs. 9 andlO I have there illustrated a further desirable modiiization in an improved construction specially adapted for double track railways and wherein the fianger element-s are formed to deflect the snow and ice entirelyto one side and further to clear the snow from the entire arca between the rails.

plow portion 45 maybe formed as a continuous plate secured to a backing member` or bar 46 boltedv to the carrier bar 8 at its oppositelend portions and to intermediate brackets i7 affixed t0 the carrier bar 8 as shown. In thisvembodiment of my invention I haveshown the carrier 'bar 8 suitably supported in inclined relation to the car body and as shown the supporting plates 2 and cylinder supporting.'rod 1v5v aref correspondingly arranged in inclined relation. 'lo give adequate backing supporL to this type of Hanger in addition to the supporting plates 2 at t ie opposite sides of the car body,

intermediate and similar plates 48 are employed as indicated whereby substantial supi port is given to the flanger throughout its entire length whereby'it may successfully remove ice and other accumulations from between the track rails.

In Figs. 1l and 12 I have-illustrated a further modified construction of my improved Hanger embodying further y*features of my invention. In theiv arrangement as there shown the cylindersl 20 of the iiuid pressure lifting means are rigidly supported and the pistons 21 are-the movable members thereof. The cylinders, as illustrated, are attached to a supporting cross b'ar 52 carried by brackets 53 secured. upon the upper surface of the opposite longitudinal -frame As here disclosed' the oppositev Hangers and the intermediate.

`form here illustrated extend upwardly from the cylinders-.andare formed with connecting yokesy 2li-.which receive and support a lifting bar 55 which in turn is suitably connected to the carrier bar 8 whereby when the lifting bar 55`is raised by the pistons the Hanger will be correspondingly elevated.

vThe connections between the lifting bar 55 and the Carrier bar 8 desirably comprise yoke members 57, 57 connected to the bar 55 and at their lower ends being pivotally connected at 58 with depending links 59; the latter being connected at their lower ends directly to the carrier bar 8 by means of pivot pins 60. The supporting connections thusv afforded are such as to.' permit of lateral shifting in the relation ofthe flangers to the supporting cylinders as will occur Where the flangers are supported upon the trucks and the lifting cylinders upon the carbody. This co-relation of the respec` tive]` arts is desirable in properly supporting t e Hangers in locations where the cylinders may not conveniently be carried upon hf forward bumper beam upon the car Asi; important advantage resulting from the improved construction ,as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 is that the Hangers are so supportedthat in the event of coming into contact with obstructions such as large boulders the damage would be limited to the Hanger and its immediate support and would not be transmitted to the lifting means or cylinders and the supports ofthe latter.

The ,foregoing is an illustration of one of the variousmodifications in form and arrangement in which the features of `my invention may be embodied. In Figs. 13 and 14 I have illustrated somewhat diagrammatically further applications of my improved flanger construction. wherein the same is combined in an approved manner with a desirable form of snow plow. As illustratedV in-Fig. 13, 65 indicates a snow plow which be of my improved form as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and operable in the improved manner as heretofore described; the llanger being positioned forward of thetruck of the plow-car and intermediate of said truck and the nosing portion of the plow proper. However, as will be readily understood my improved flanger may be otherwise situated so as to cooperate withthe plow, for in\ stance as shown in dotted-lines at 69 the langer and its cooperating lifting means may be located to the rear of the forward truck with the advantage that the Hanger would not remove from the rails the usual signal torpedoes before the forward wheels could pass thereover.

In Fig. 14 I have illustrated a further desirable installation of'my improved flangers combined with a snow plow in the manner described wherein indicates the plow proper which may be of a standard or desirable form. Mounted upon the bumper beam 68 there is illustrated the improved Hanger of the type illustrated in Figs. l to 3 and operative to deflect the snow and ice from the region immediatelyadjacent to the rail. In addition thereto there is shown at 70 a second flanger plow suitably supported to the rear of the forward truck`67 and of the type illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 here.,-` inbefore described. As will be readily seen' the rearwardly arranged lla-nger plow will be operative to deflect the snow and ice en tirely to one side of the track and will remove any accumulations of snow andice from the entire area between the rails.

While ,I have described and shown modified forms of my invention it will be understood that the features thereof may be othcrwise varied in form and arrangement without departing from scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that all matter contained herein shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described,

-the combination of a carrier vehicle, oppositely positionedsupporting members connected tothe vehicle and provided with oppositely positioned guide ways, a carrier bar .fitted within the guide ways and capable ot' vertical movement therein, flanger plates supported at the opposite sides upon the carrier bar, operating means for the Hangers comprising motors positioned adjacent to the opposite sides of the carrier bar, said motors comprising cylinder and piston niembers, one of said members being suitably supported to be structurally rigid and the other of said members being movable with relation thereto, said motors being adapted to be actuated by fluid pressures in opposite directions, connections between the movable members of the motors and the carrier bar whereby motion imparted to the former will be transmitted to the latter to elevate or. depress the flanger plates and compression springs incorporated in the motors and operative normally to elevate and sustain the Hangers and proportioned to be yieldable under the action of the fluid pressure in one direction for depressing the langers into operative position, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a carrier vehicle, oppositely positioned supporting members suitably supported thereon, said supporting members being provided, with co-acting guide ways, a carrier bar fitted within the respective guide ways and capable of vertical movement therein, flanger deflecting plates supported upon the opposite end portions of the carrier bar to operate adjacent to the rails, a supporting bar positioned below the plane of the carrier bar rigidly supported upon the supporting members and forming a lower bearing stop for the elevating bar,v operating means for the Hanger plates comprising oppositely positioned motors consisting of cylinder and piston mem bers, one of said members being immovably supported upon the support-ing bar and thQ other of said motor members being movable with relation thereto, connections from t-he movable motor members to the carrier `bar whereby the latter is elevated or depressed thereby, said motor being adapted to be ac tuated by a fluid pressure for both elevating and depressing the carrier bar andcompression springs incorporated in the motors and operative normally to elevate the carrier bar and flangers attached thereto, substantially as described.

' 3. In a device of the character described,

lthe combination of a carrier vehicle, oppositely arranged supporting members provided with co-acting substantially vertical guide ways, a carrier bar transversely arranged and fitted to said guide ways, guide shoulder elements provided on the carrier bar to engage the supporting members to prevent transverse shifting of the carrier bar, flangcr deflecting plates supported upon the opposite ends of the carrier bar andV posi- .tioned to operate adjacent to the rails, a supporting bar attached to the supporting mem-l bers and positioned beneath the carrier bar to provide a lower stop bearing therefor, operating means for the carrier bar comprising oppositely positioned motors consisting of cylinder' and piston members, said pistons being rigidly supported upon the supportingbar and said cylinders being movable with relation thereto and connected tothe carrier bar whereby the latter and thella-'ngenv4 vlates are movable therewith, said cylinders eing provided with inlet and exhaust ports both above and below the piston whereby the motor may be actuated by fluid pressure positione both to elevate and depress the flanger Vplates, flexible conduits communicating with the respective cylinder ports and compression springs fitted within the c ylinder above the piston and operative normally to elevate,

the ilanger plates into inoperative position and proportioned to be yieldable under the fluid pressure to permit of the latter operating to depress the langer into position for use, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a vehicle, oppositely positioned supporting members carried thereby, Hanger plates suitably supported and associated with the supporting members to lbe movable with relationthereto for elevating and depressing the Hanger plates into and out of operative position, voperating inotors suitably'supported at opposite sides of the device, said motors having cylinder and piston neinbers, one of said members being structurally rigidland the other movable with relation thereto, connections from the movable members to tlie langer plates whereby the latter are shifted into and out of operating position, said motors being adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure both to` elevate and depress the lflangers and compression springs interposed between the respective rigid and movable' membersl of the motor and operative normally to actuate the motor to elevate the flanger plates and said Hanger plates being provided with inward extensions adapted to lclear the full area between the rails.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a carrier vehicle, oppositelyI arranged supporting members pro` vided with co-acting substantially' vertical guide ways, a carrier bar transversely arranged and fitted to said guide ways, guide shoulder elements provided on the carrier bar to engage the supporting members to prevent transverse shifting of the carrier bar, ilanger deflecting plates supported upon the oplposite ends of the carrier bar and to operate adjacent to the rails, a supporting bar attached to the supporting members and positioned beneath the` carrier bar to provide a lower stop bearing therefor, operating meansv for the carrier bar comprising oppositely positioned motors g consisting of cylinder and piston members,

said pistons being rigidly supported upon the supporting bar and said cylinders being movable with relation thereto and connected tothe carrier bar whereby the latter and the flanger plates are movable therewith, said cylinders being provided with inlet and exhaust ports both above and below the piston whereby the motor may be actuated by fluid pressure both to elevate and depress the flanger plates, flexible conduits communicating with the respective cylinder ports and a compression spring fitted within the cylinders above the piston and operativeynormally to elevate the flanger plates into in vertical movement therein, a. delecting plate carried by the carrier bar and comprising flanger portions formed with notchesy to clear the rails and adapted to clear the snow immediately adjacent thereto and with an intermediate plow portion t-o clear the area between the rails and saidy plate being inclinedto deflect entirely to the one side and operating means therefor comprising motors situated at opposite sides of the vehicle,

said motors having movable members and connections therefrom to the carrier bar, said motor being adapted to be actuated by fluid pressures both to elevate and depress the carrier bar and compression springs iiicorporated in the motors to be operative normally 'to elevate the carrier bar and defleeting plate into inoperative position, substantially as described.

7. In a snow lremoving device, the combination of a plow car having carriage' trucks and Va vehicle body supported thereon a main plow cairied by the body and forwardly extending therefrom, a' flanger snow deflecting plate suitably supported interme-V diate of the plow nosing portion and the forward truck and operating means therefor adapted to -elevate and depress the'flanger plates int-o inoperative and operative positions and a second flanger snow removing device positioned to the rear of the forwaid truck and formed with a defiecting plate having langer portions operative immediately adjacent the rails and with an inter- .mediate plow portion to clear the full a'rea between the rails, said deflecting plate' being suitably inclined to deflect entirely to one sideof the road bedl and' operating iiieans therefor operative to "elevate and depress the deflecting plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification.

EBEN RAY. PACKER.

los'

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